Show Introduction: Playful Kiss–where it all began

As I have mentioned before Playful Kiss (or Mischievous Kiss)–Or as I call it–the gateway drug. With my first few episodes of this show I was hooked not only on the show, but on the entire genre of Kdramas. At the time I had recently moved and didn’t even have Internet at the new house, so I started watching it at work. As the weekend was fast approaching and I realized I was going to be unable to watch the show for a whole weekend, I knew I needed to take action. One Amazon gift card and overnight shipping I had it! And let me tell you it was not an easy decision. Authorized copies (which trust me is the way to go) are not cheap. Depending on the show it can run you anywhere from $50-$80. From there I proceeded to have my first weekend marathon (the first of MANY).

Since I first purchased this, I’ve watched it at least 4-5 times. Like I said, it’s the gateway drug. Since it worked on me usually any time I make someone sit down and start to watch Kdrama–I go with this one. I thought it would be my favorite forever, however, the more I acquaint myself with these shows, I begin to see it more clearly.

This show has many incarnations. It first began as a Japanese manga called “Itazura na Kiss” by Tada Kaoru Then it became a live action TV show also Japanese also called “Itazura na Kiss” (or It Began With a Kiss) followed by the sequel “They Kissed again”. Later it was remade in Korea as Playful Kiss. (With the uber yummy Kim Hyun Joong in his first lead roll.) Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get my hands on the Japanese version of the show. My first and only attempt ended horribly and only succeeded in infecting my computer with some nasty malware. I have great hopes that Drama Fever will eventually get it.

Here is the basic premise (from Drama Fever):

Oh Ha Ni, nicknamed “snail” by her father and friends for her ability to eventually get where she wants to go, even if it takes her months or years, has one goal in mind: get close to the school genius, Baek Seung Jo (Kim Hyun Joong). Ha Ni has had an intense crush on him for years, and finally gets up the courage to give him a letter confessing her feelings. Seung Jo, an icy perfectionist who is always at the top of the class, has made it a habit to reject girls however, and has no interest in Ha Ni, who is not academically gifted. When Ha Ni’s house is destroyed by an earthquake, she and her father move in with old friends of his, who turn out to be Seung Jo’s family, and soon the two are living in the same house. Can one determined, warm-hearted high school girl melt the heart of a closed-off genius?

Check out the trailer also made by Drama Fever.

While I no longer think this is the best Kdrama out there it will always hold a very special place in my heart as it was my first–and that’s enough for me.